5 ways to enjoy Vung Tau as a family

Vietnam’s only private weapons museum, the Robert Taylor Worldwide Arms Museum, has fascinated both adults and kids since 2016. An extensive collection of military uniforms and weapons that date back centuries will keep everyone entertained for hours. For an overview of Vũng Tàu, head to the town’s newly renovated provincial museum nearby.

Vũng Tàu is the birthplace of one, much-loved Vietnamese dish: bánh khọt. Crispy cakes with a plump shrimp in the centre, rolled with lettuce and herbs and dunked in fish sauce are a fantastic seaside snack. For dinner, gather the family around a stingray hot pot with forest bamboo shoots, or slurp up a bowl of bánh canh (tapioca noodles) topped with flower crab. 

High-end resorts further along the coastline have claimed some of Vũng Tàu’s best sandy beaches, where families can enjoy extra privacy and five-star service. Glide down the waterslides at the Grand Ho Tram Strip, or spend an enjoyable weekend in one of the Melia Ho Tram’s gorgeous beachfront villas. 

Take the teenagers on a field trip and learn about Vietnam’s colonial history. Untended military outposts, set up to protect the mouth of the Saigon River from invaders, remain outfitted with cannons and other military equipment. On another hillside, Villa Blanche is a mansion originally built for the French governor, and an interesting look into the domestic life of the colonialists. 

For a soft adventure, traverse the nearby Phước Bửu Nature Reserve or dip your feet in the mineral streams at Bình Châu hot spring. Families can ride bicycles to Small Mountain and hike up to see the view from Vung Tau’s famous Jesus Christ statue. End your route on Front Beach at sunset to watch the skies turn scarlet and purple. 

Want more Vietnam travel ideas? Sign up for our newsletter to receive our best stories in your inbox.